The first emoji may have been created unintentionally in 1862 when a sideways wink was printed in Abraham Lincoln's speech notes. Shigetaka Kurita created the first intentional set of 176 emojis in 1999 for Japanese mobile phones to help users communicate through images. In 2011, Apple looked to expand in Japan and added emojis to iOS after seeing how popular they were being used to provide context. One emoji, the poop icon, became particularly popular. For an emoji to be officially recognized, it must go through a approval process with the Unicode Consortium that can take 1-2 years. A proposal must prove there is a need or gap that existing emojis cannot fulfill. The document challenges the reader to design an original emoji

1. Rise of the Emoji

2. What does this mean?

3. What does this mean?

4. What does this mean?

5. The first emoji?
The typesetter for a 1862 speech made by
Abraham Lincoln might have been distracted
but it resulted a sideways winky face
appearing in the notes for his speech.

6. Father of Emojis
Shigetaka Kurita created the first 176 emojis in 1999
for a Japanese mobile phone operator.
Wanted to provide users with a way
to communicate through images.

7. Emoji Expansion
In 2011, Apple was looking
to expand its market in
Japan.
People had been using
these characters to provide
context to their
communication, so Apple
added a hidden feature in
the iOS5 update.
Suddenly, yellow faces and
poop icons became a part
of our lexicon.

8. One Emoji to Rule Them All
Before an emoji can
become an emoji it must
be approved by the
Unicode Consortium.
Approval process
typically takes 1 to 2
years.

9. UC Submission Process
1. Submit a proposal
2. Provide justification for its creation by proving a
need.
• Argue that the icon is already popular online and frequently
searched.
• Show that a currently existing family of emoji is missing this
pivotal group member.
• Prove that there is no other way to express this idea with an
existing emoji combination.

10. Challenge
Design and create an original emoji.
Just like real emoji designers justify your design’s
validity by explaining why there is a need for it.

11. Steps
1. Research what emoji are currently available.
2. Design your original emoji.
Your emoji may be created digitally or by hand.
But it must be of professional quality and in full-color.
3. Provide a justification for its creation by proving
there is a need for it. For example:
• Argue that the icon is already popular online and frequently
searched.
• Show that a currently existing family of emoji is missing this
pivotal group member.
• Prove that there is no other way to express this idea with an
existing emoji combination.

12. All Done
Submit your original
emoji and justification.
If created digitally,
upload your completed
emoji and justification to
Schoology.
If drawn by hand, give
your completed emoji
and justification to your
teacher.